Electrical starting motor



Jlunel9, 1 931. v. G. APPLE ELECTRICAL STARTING uo'roR 2 sheets-sheet 1Filed D90. 22, 1927 .,I- -wl Ww i, i. m, E m? w N wn wm,

June 9, 1931. v. G. APPLE ELECTRICAL STARTING MOTOR Filed Dele. 22. 19272 Sheets-Sheet 2 New @www y .n N I Patented June 9, 1931 PATENT oFFlcE.UNITED STATES VINCENT G. APPLE, OF. DAYTON, OHIO ELECTRICAL STARTINGMOTOR Application led December 22, 1927. Serial No. 241,970.

v provide a simple and eflicient means of connecting and disconnectingthe electric current by the mechanical action of the starter, to

the yend that the starter switch, which is commonly used with this typeof starter, may be eliminated. y Y

Another object of my invention is to providera quick action shiftingmechanism so that the commutator, Vwhich serves as a startf ing switchto complete the circuit, may be quickly and completely shifted under thebrushes for starting, andV quickly and comy pletely shifted from underthe brushes when starting khas been effected, to the end that theburning action, commonly encountered in 5 startingswitches due toindierent Contact,

may be overcome.

Still another object, in providing .a quick action shifting device ofthis type, is to overcome the ill effects often caused when an operatorpushes the pinion only part way into mesh, thereby causing undueistrainon the gear teeth. This will be impossible with the present mechanism,as the pinion will always be entirely in or entirely out.

A well known and fundamental defect in the screw pinion type of starter`is that, havv ing once entered .the pinion into mesh with thegear, itdepends entirely upon the iiring of the engine toget the pinion out ofmesh, and if, after vthe pinion is entered, it is found thatlthe enginewill not start, it is usually necessary to disengage the pinion and gearby some manual means.

"It is one of the objects ofthe-present invention to provide a meanswhereby the pinion and gear may be disengaged, by the removal of thepressure from the foot .'pedal, whenever the engine refuses to start.

Another well known and fundamental defeet in the screwpinion and mostother types of starter is that, as soon as the en 'ne is started andrunning, it is necessary or the operator to quickly remove his foot fromthe starting pedal. Otherwise, the pinion will go forward to againengage the fly wheel gear whichwill then be running too fast forengagement which consequently endangers the gear teeth. In the presentinvention if the operator has once depressed the foot pedal to asulicient extent, the mechanism is such as to givequick electricalcontact and quick pinion engagement, then starting, then quickelectrical break and pinion disengagement, and it operates in thismanner regardless of whether the operator keeps the pedal depressed ornot, In order to repeat the operation he must entirely remove thepressure from the foot pedal and againdepress it. An embodiment of theinvention is illustrated by the following drawings wherein 70' Fig. 1 isa longitudinal cross section thru the starter.' p

Fig. 2 is an end view of the starter showing the brushes and brushholders.

Fig. 3 is a' section taken thru the brush 75 studs on the line 3-3 Fig.2. L

Fig. 4 is a view of the pedal end, showing also the mounting iange.

Referring to the drawings, frame 6 has mounted therein six ieldcoils 7,wound from strip stock. The starting end of each field coil is groundedby screwing it to the polepiece, as at 8, while the finishing end ofeach coil is fastened to a brush stud 9, the six coils being arranged inpairs, each pair'havingv one positive coil and its adjacent negativecoil fastened to a single brush stud. Thus the brush studs 9, 11 and 13each connect to one pair,` comprising a positive and nega- 90 tive fieldcoil, while the three remaining brush studs 10, 12 and 14 are connectedby plate 15 to the battery.

An armature core 1 6 is securely mounted l on shaft 17 and held b y nut18. Wound in 96 the armature core 16 is a series of vconductors 19,which, in this particular case, also. form the commutator. Theconductors are in turn imbedded in molded' insulation 20,. which formsan extension to thecommutator upon 10 which brushes 21, 22, 23, 24, 25and 26 may rest when no electrical contact is desired.

Itis to be understood that while for purposes of illustration I haveherein described specific features relating to the motor elements I donot wish to .be limited to the structure shown as the objects of theinvention as hereinbefore set forth may be attained by employing motorelements of other structure, I,

In'Figure 1 the starter is shown as it ap-v pears when inoperative,withjthe armature core 16 axially shifted to a considerable extent inrelation to the pole pieces 27, 28, etc.,

vin placey by screws 38 and 39.

and with the brushes 21, 24, etc., resting on 'the ring of -moldedinsulation 20. Sufiicient space is provided in the frame so that thearmature may be shifted to a running position with' the core 16 directlyunder the pole pieces and the commutator directly under the brushes.

Mounted on frame 6 is a hook 29 which is supported between two suitablesurfaces' 30 and 31, pivoted on pin 32 and held down by spring 33. dIntegrally cut on shaft 17 is a pinion 34 at the end of which issecurely fastened a washer 35. The hook 29 engaging washer 35 keeps thegear in its inoperative position until it is desired to operate thestarter when the hook is automatically raised and the mechanism causedto shift.

For ease of. assembly andl in order that pinion 34' may readily enter,the frame is open at its end, as at36. Mounted in opening 36 is a.flanged bearing 37 which is held Slidably mounted in flanged bearing 37is pedal tube 40' which is held in its inoperative position by spring41.Rotatably mounted by a pin 42 in the end of `shaft 17 isspindle 43. Acollar 44 backed by pin 45 forms an abutment for spring 46. The otherend of spring .46 reacts against flanged collar47. Flanged collar 47 hasa tapered hole and because its flange is pushed by spring 46 against thebeveled end of bearing 37, the' one fend of collar 47 is eccentricwithspindle 43. The conical part 48 of spindle 43 serves to bring collar47 concentricv at the proper time and will then allow pedal tube 40 totelescope over flanged collar 47.

" The operation of the starter is substantially as follows: Depressingped ltube 40 compresses pedal return spring 41. The end of pedal tube 40engages. one side of taper-holed collar 47 thereby compressing spring46. When suiicient energy is stored 'in spring'46 to shift the armature,the beveled iiange of collar 47 reaches'and raises the beveled end ofhook 29 releasing washer 35, and the shift, which meshes the gears andbrings the commutator under the brushes for running contact, takesplace. Whenwthe pinion has lshifted to the point of full mesh, theconical pat 48rof tube 40, so that the mechanism 1s now in suchcondition that any force tending to unmesh the pinion can do so whetherthe operator releases pedal 40 or not.

Now if no restraining means were supplied the relatively light spring 49would at o nce return the armature to thestarting point, unmeshing vthegears and breaking the electrical circuit without waiting for crankingto be effected, or for the operator to release the pedal, but the teethof pinion 34 and engine fly wheel gear 50 are cut at a slighthelicalangle, the angle'being 4such-that as long as cranking effortisexerted the tendency adl of the angular teeth is to keep the gears inmesh, but when engine firing takes 'lace the tendency of the angularteeth istot row the gears out of mesh. Thus it is only after enginefiring has .taken lplace-that the light spring 49 is able toreturn ythearmature to the starting point.

If, however, the engine refuses to re and 'cranking continues longerthan desired the pedal 'may be released and the stronger spring 41pulling tube 40 against shoulder 51 of spindle 43 forcibly withdraws thegears from mesh and breaks the circuit.

. The starting device here shown embodies the several novel features ofmy invention 1in the form which I consider asv serving the' most usefulpurpose, but some of the combinations of elements disclosed 'produceequal results when app-lied to other devices than electrical startingmotors. For instance, the quick acting mechanism,` shown may be appliedtoimany purely mechanical devices, or, the quick acting means of makingand breaking an electric circuit may be applied-to many p electricaldevices. Even for starter purposes the electrical 'connections maybeconsiderably modified. The commutator may have lits brush track on theend thereof, or the contact members used to close the circuitmayconsistof members other than the commutator and brushes, and since nouse is made of the solenoid action of the armature to pull it intopperative. osition axially immovable armature, but with other axiallymovable parts to perform the functions set forth, is considered withinthe spirit ofthe invention.

Holding this view of the scopel of the invention, I claim- 1. Enginestartingl apparatus comprising:

a gear, secured to said engine to revolve said engine, an electricmotor, a-shaft for said motor axially movable'therem, a pinion Aseastarting motor having aniis A cured to said shaft normall out ofengagement with said gear but adiipted to enga e said gear when movedaxially by said sha t, electric circuit closing means for said motornormally open but operable to be closed by endwise movement of saidshaft from its normal non-operating position, means Within manualcontrol to apply energy to urge said shaft to move axially, means torelease said energy to operate said shaft, and means beyond manualcontrol after said release to operate said shaft to en age anddisen-gage said pinion and to quie ly open and close said circuitclosing means.

2. In en 'ne starting apparatus, the combination o 'a gear secured tosaid engine to revolve said engine; an electric motor; a pinion adaptedto be rotated by said motor, said pinion being normally out ofengagement, but axially movable to engage said gear; electric circuitclosing means for said motor normally open but operable to be closed byendwise movement of said pinion into engagement; spring means to operatesaid pinion into and out of engagement; manual means to stress andrelease said spring means, said manual means being incapable ofrestraining said spring means from operating said pinion into-and out ofengagement after said release has taken place.

3. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a gear securedto said engine to revolve said engine; an electric motor; a pinionadapted to be rotated by said motor, said pinion being normally out ofengagement, but axially movable to engage said gear; electric circuitclosing means for said motor normally open but operable to be quicklyclosed and again opened by movement of said pinion into and out ofengagement; spring mechanism adapted te progressively operate saidpinion first into and then out of engagement; manual means to energizesaid spring mechanism; .means to restrain action of said springmechanism until it is suitably energized; and means to release said sring mechanism from operative control o saidfmanual means untilvafter ithas operated said pinion first into and then out of engagement.

4. The combination, in engine starting apparatus, of a gear secured tosaid engine to revolve said engine; an electric motor; a pinion adaptedto be rotated by said motor, said pinion being normallyout ofengagement, but axially movable to engage said gear;

.electric circuit closing means for said motor,

normally open but operable to be closed and again opened by movement ofsaid pinion into'and out of engagement; spring mechanism adapted toprogressively operate said pinion first into and then out of engagement;manual means to energize said spring mechanism; means to restrain actiono said spring mechanism untilI it isv suitably energized;

means to release said spring mechanism from operative control of saidmanual means until after itv has operated said pinion first into andthen out of engagement; and means operative after engagement of saidpinion to hold said pinion in engagement against the disengaging eiortof the spring means until said engine is started.

5. The combination, in engine starting apparatus, of a helical gearsecured to said engine to revolve said engine; an electric Inotor; ahelical pinion adapted to be rotated by said motor, said pinion beingnormally out of engagement, but axially movable to engage said gear;electric circuit closing means for said motor normally open but operableto be closed and again opened by movement of said pinion into and outVof engagement;

spring mechanism adapted to progressively operate said pinion first intoand then out of engagement; manual means to energize said springmechanism; means to restrain action of said spring mechanism until it issuitably energized; and means to release said adapted to be rotated bysaid motor, said pinion being normally out of engagement but axiallymovable to engage said gear; electric circuit closing means for saidmotor, normally open but operable to be closed and again opened bymovement of said pinion into and out of engagement; a relatively strongspring; a relatively Weak spring;

lmanual means to appropriately stress said relatively strong spring;means to restrain said relatively strong spring until it isappropriately stressed; and means to release said restraining means,said springs being so placed that release of said relatively strongspring moves said pinion axially into engagement, closes said circuitclosing means, v'and stresses saidv relatively weak spring, andthereturn to normal of said relatively Weak 'I spring-removes said pinionfrom engagement and opens said circuit closing means.

7 In an engine starter, the combination of v a gear secured to saidengine to revolve said engine; an electric motor; a pinion adapted to berotatedby said motor, said pinion being normally out of engagement butaxially movable to engage said gear; electric circuit closing means forsaid motor, normally open but adapted to be closed and again opened bymovement 'of said pinion into and out of engagement; a relatively strongspring.; a relatively weak spring; manual means to appropriatelycompress said relatively strong spring;l means to restrain saidrelatively strong spring until it is appropriately compressed; and meansto suddenly release said restraining means, -said s lrings being soplaced that expansion o said relatively strong spring moves said pinionaxially into engagement closes said circuit closing means, andvcompresses said relatively weak spring, and expansion of saidrelatively weak spring removes said 'pinion from engagement and opens,said circuit closing means.

8. In engine starting apparatus, the combination of a helical toothedgear secured to said engine to revolve said' engine; an electric motor;a helical toothed pinion adapted to be rotated by said motor, saidpinion being normally out of engagement but axially movable to'engagesaid gear; electric circuit closing means for said motor, normally openbt adapted to be closed and again opened byv movement of said' pinioninto and out of engagement; a relatively strong spring; a relativelyweak spring; manual means to appropriately stress said relatively strongspring; means to restrain said relatively strong -spring until lit isappropriately stressed; and means torelease said restraining means, saidsprings being so placed that release'of said relatively'strong springmoves die said pinion axially into engagement, closes said circuitclosing means, and stresses said.

relatively weak spring, `and the return yto normal of said relativelyWeak spring` removes said pinion from ,engagement `and opens saidcircuit closing means, and the teeth ofvsaid helical gear and pinionbeing at l such an angle as willlproduce an axial thrust ladapted toprevent said relatively weak spring from returning to normal as long assaid motor is turningsaid engine and to assist said relativelyWeakrspring in returning to 4a, normal when said engine turns saidmotor.

9. In engine starting apparatus,'tl1 e com' bination of a gear securedto said engine to revolve said engine; an electric motor; a pinionadapted to be rotated by said motor, said pinion being normally out ofengagement but axially movable to engage said gear; electric circuitclosing means for said motor normally open but adapted to be closed andagain opened by' movement of said pinion into and out of engagement; arelativelyl agement to release said strong spring from I t e -controlof. said manual means.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set myhand.

' VINCENT G; APPLE.

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